Friends of David Wierdsma celebrate his legacy - French Farm

Published 1:45 pm, Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Gathering to celebrate the life of David Wierdsma of French Farm were his brother, Fred Wierdsma in the rear, his step-brother, Nathan Allen on right, and wife Tibby Allen, second from left, their daughter-in-law and two grandchildren
Photo: Monte Peterson/Contributed Photo

Gathering to celebrate the life of David Wierdsma of French Farm...

Bruce Spaman, Tree Warden of Greenwich, who attended the Wierdsma memorial with his wife, Angela. He remembered his friend as, "A man for all seasons who has created a place for the ages."
Photo: Anne W. Semmes

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The life of David Wierdsma, the owner of French Farm on Lake Avenue, was celebrated recently by his many friends at a Sunday lunch and stroll of his property in full spring bloom -- three months after his death of cancer at the age 74.

The event, which featured a steel drum band and was attended by some 200 guests, was held in place of a memorial, said Wierdsma's longtime friend and co-executor of his estate, Phillip Doherty. "He didn't want anything solemn," he said.

Doherty also serves as a trustee for the French Farm Foundation that Wierdsma established before his death to help preserve the cultural and historic aspects of the Farm site.

Wierdsma inherited the four-acre, 100-year- old French Farm which was part of a larger family home, in 1972.

A year later, the Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places -- the first property in town to be so designated. Wierdsma spent 39 years restoring Farm buildings, gentleman farming, developing a rare plant collection, creating a series of distinctive gardens and artscapes, then sharing his inspired landscape at various times with all ages.

"The place looks great -- this is David's legacy," said Nathan Allen III, Wierdsma's nephew, to the gathered crowd over lunch. "This day is for David," he said, "Let's raise a glass to David!"

Allen, who is president of the French Farm Foundation, spoke briefly of the foundation's goal to carry out Wierdsma's wishes that French Farm be preserved and continue to be shared with the public at least once a year.

As guests shared their stories of Wierdsma and admired the many unique plants and artifacts brought in from across the world, a few took time to sign "Mementos," a book to be published of friends' reminiscences.

The Town's Tree Warden, Bruce Spaman, added his memory of David Wierdsma: "A man for all seasons who has created a place for the ages."